Transfer needle



NOV. 20, 1951 SIRMAY 2,575,365

* TRANSFER NEEDLE Filed Aug. 9, 1947 ATTOM'Y v Patented Nov. 20, 1951 TRANSFER NEEDLE Julius Sirmay, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to The Ordnance Gauge Company, Philadelphia, Pa.,

a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 9, 1947, Serial No. 767,748

The present invention relates to certain new and useful transfer needle for knitting machine having two banks of needles and, more particularly, for circular knitting machine having a bank of dial needles and a bank of cylinder needles, and has for its object the more ready and more treadle-free transfer of stitches from one bank of needles to the other bank, when such transfer is desired for purposes of effecting certain variations in the knitted fabric.

In the prior-art of stitch-transfer mechanisms and transfer needles, the practice has been, among others, to provide a cam-surface on the side of the needle, over which the needle in the other needle-bank may ride (for the transfer operation), but in which the cam-surface, on the needle, is formed on the side of the needle by a bulge which is generally a counterpart of the cam-surface.

This required (among other things) the sacrificing of the continuous support of the needle, because of the necessity of eliminating the needle-guide slot (in the cylinder-bed or in the dial-bed) at a point beyond the position of such needle-carried cam in the retracted position of the needle, because the bulging side of the needle (where the cam is formed) cannot enter the needle-guide slot.

In other forms of stitch-transfer mechanisms of the prior-art, the needles were provided with spring-clips on the needles, attached to the sides of the needles, or extra jacks (having such spring-clip formation) were placed alongside of each needle, for the purpose of opening the stitch laterally in alignment with the needle of the other bank, so that the needle of such other bank ,could enter the loop so held open.

In the stitch-transfer machine of the present invention, each set of needles is formed with an upper needle-retaining recess and a lower needle camming recess in its side, with a stitch-retaining shoulder between these two recesses, whereby (when the one set or bank of needles is shifted or racked" in relation to the other set or bank of needles, 2. distance of one-half of a needle-space, and the two sets or banks of needles thus brought into full alignment with each other) the needles from which the loops are to be transferred are first extended, and the receiving needles are thereafter extended into the upper recesses in the sides of the first set of needles (from which the loops are to be transferred), and held there in fixed position until the first set of needles (from which the loops are to be transferred) is extended forward so as to bring the needle in the camming 9 Claims. (Cl. 56-95) recess thereof into alignment with the receiving needles. In this position, the outer end of the loop is hung on the shoulder which is between the two recesses (on needle from which the loop is to be transferred) while the receiving needle then forces its way into the loop While it is so hung on such shoulder; as the receiving needle is extended further and beyond the camming surface; the so extended receiving needle being deflected or sprung partially by the camming surface of the needle from which the loop is being transferred. The receiving needle is held in this extended position until the full withdrawal of the needles from which the loop is being transferred, whereby such needles remove themselves from the loops or cast off the loops onto the needles of the other bank.

By means of the transfer-needle of my present invention, transfer-needles may be employed both in the dial-bed as well as in the cylinder-bed, whereas with the transfer-needles of the priorart, which had spring-clips or other enlargements projecting from their sides, it was not possible either to utilize such transfer-needles in both banks, or, utilizing them in both banks, it wasnot possible, to knit wholly on one bank of needles alone, because the fore-cut of the bed. had to be cut down so far (in order to clear the spring-clip or other lateral projection of the transfer-needle) that there was not enough fore-I cut remaining to support the yarn to form the next loop, as the needle was retracted. Thus, it was not possible to knit a plain jersey fabric type of knit-formation on such transfer-needles of the prior-art.

By means of the transfer-needle of the present invention, it is possible to use transfer-needles in both the cylinder anddial, and to transfer from cylinderto dial and from dial back to cylinder and it is possible by my invention to transfer'only some or all the loops from one bank to another,

and if only some (rather than all) loops are transferred, then every third or fourth loop'in the-bank may be transferred or alternate pairsof loops may be transferred or any selected-group of loops may be transferred according to any pattern. Likewise, it is possible, by means ofrny novel transfer-needle, to transfer from a loopbearing transfer-needle of one bank to' an open needle of the other bank and thereafter activate such needle of the other bank to which the loop was so transferred.

necessary to bring the needles in alignment with each other for transfer. However, when the needles between which the transfer is to be eflected are already in alignment with each other as, for instance, the high-butt needles in the one bank and the low-butt needles in the other bank, it is not necessary to rack, in the transfer operation;

By the-needle construction of the present invention, the needles are given full lateral support without any lateral projections or bulges, sovthati, the slots guiding them need not be widened to clear the spring clips or bulge'smr tlffe rieeellestv In the needle construction of my-pr'esentine vention, the receiving needle is caused to enter the receiving-recess of the needlegfromwhichcther loop is to be transferred, by the timing of the two dwells of the needle-engaging or butt-engagii'ig cams, while the point of the two dwells on such camsithen causesl theireceivinganeedl'eto be-ex tended-still further in timedirelation to the needle I \fmmFWhichthe loop isto be transferred; The receiVingLneedIe is caused to: be extended to its outermost-transfer position when the other needle has been extended so that the needle 'cammingrecessthereof-= is in alignment with the receiving needlaf Figure 1 represents a-- fragmentary side-elevational view: of a'transfer needle embodying my present invention; on an enlarged scale, shown in the cylinderposition, with 4 positions of the hook of a'cooperating dial-needle shown, in relation to'the hook-retaining and hook-camming recesses in the-side' ofthecylinder-needle;

Figure- 2-'represents a section, on' line 22, of Figure-Lon still-further enlarged scale.

Figure 3 repre sents*asection of line 3-3; of l, but' also: on astill further enlarged scale (the same soale as 'Figure;-2)1

Figure; 4- represents a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of a cylinder bed anda dial bed, shown-schematically; and' with a transferneedle ofth'epresent invention shown in the cylinder-"bed, and with a needle in the dial-bed shown; in operative juxtaposition thereto, and generally 'in position 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 5misraiview, similarto Fig; 4, but with theineedles: in a: position between position 3 and position .4 shown in Figure 1-.

Figure 6.; represents a viewsimilar to thatshownzinwFigures-sl, 4 and 5; but-with the-needles m,.positionz4i-ofFigure 1*. V

Figure '7 represents a view similar tothat shown in Figures 4', 5, and 6; but withthe positions ,ofztheneedlesin 'theinext-stage, namely, in thesstage; where:thezoylinder-needlehas startedmoyingdown andhasieftthe loop on the hook of thedial-needle.

Figure; 8: represents a. view similar: to that shown-,lbycFigures-d; 5, 6Janda7 but with the cylinderrneedleemoved "furthersdown, and with its latch. -ahout; to :close, ,.as;its :latch :and hook with draws fromv the-:loop which is-then left behindon; the; dial- -needlel Figure; 9 represents a View similar ,to that shownv in Figuresj iito 8, inclusive, but with the hook: of the: cylinder-needle fully withdrawn from the.: loop.

FigurelOjsza viewsimilar to that shown in Figures 4 to 9, inclusive, but with the dial-needle (carrying: the transferred' loop) fully withdrawn,

I and'trepresents thelast stage in the stitch trans- L in their respective slots, because the needles are needle, and wherein the cylinder-needle is shown in its raised position for another course. In this stage, either a double loop is left on the receiving-needle, or the original loop may be cast off from the receiving-needle.

The transfer-needle of the present invention, as shown in the drawings, includes a hook-retaining recess I l in one side of the needlegjust below the latch-carrying portion thereof, and a hook-camming recess l2 in the same side of the needle, just below the hook-retaining recess l l.

The hook-retainin recess ll preferably is in the upper shallow part of the needle, while the heok carnming recess i2 is in the lower and deeper partof the needle, as shown in the drawings, andintervening these two parts in a loop retaining. and elevating shoulder I4, upon which theloop I5 is adapted to be engaged, when the needle from which the loop is to be transferred, advances further during the transferring operation.- 1

The'hook-retaining recess ll preferably-hasanouter terminal wall'l3 which is'either atja right angle to the side faces of the needleordswall lfl-ofrecess is preferably slightly'inclined as shown in Fig. 3;

The side-wall: iii of :the hoolq-camming recess I2, on the'other hand, is gradually inclined-front its starting edge I! toits term inal edge'lfi, either" along; a straight or plane surface or along; a slightly curved surface as indicated" at [6, in Figure ;2. The purpose of the gradual inclination ofthissurface l6;,is gradually toforceor cainlf the. nose of the needle ofithe opposite-bank (towhich the loop is to be transferred) off t one side. of the needle (from which' the,loop is tebe transferred). This camming, to one-side, intothe position shown in Figure 2, is ,rnade possible by theresiliency, or fiexingof the needles,

Thecycle or sequence ,ofjoperational stages or operationalpositions, in a, transfer, isgenerally as. follows: Position 1, shownjn Figure 1, indi cates. the relative positionsof the dial-needle which is to receive the, loop, and' the cylinderf needle which is to relinquish the ,loop, whilethe sition wherethe hook-retainin recess ll: of the,

cylinder-needle is, in alignment withthedialneedle, andjin,v which the. dial-needle has, ad: vancedtowards the cylinden-needle, so thatjts; hook enters thehookrretaining recess, l l offthc. cylinderL-needlel As the cylinder-needle travels still further in itsfup-travel, itmoves to the position (relative-to the dial-needle which is designated as, position 3 in Figure l. and then movesstill further; to the position shown in'Figure 5;, andfinally'into; the. position: designated" as "position 4? in Figure; 1;, and also shown in: Figure -6, during: which the: dial-needle advances furtheraftenthe camminga recess l2 of the cylinder-needle isbroughtlinto alignment with the dial needle (both needlesmoving forwardly, as the-dial-needle enters thecamming recess l2 duringwhichmovement ofy the dial-needle; the dial-needle startsunder the slightly undercut as shown in Fig. 3-.- 'I-he side- 5. yarn loop l8, which is suspended on the shoulder l4). 7

After it has reached the position generally designated as "position 4 in Figure 1 and also shown in Figure 6 (which is the full up-position of the cylinder-needle), the dial-needle remains stationary, in its extended position, while the cylinder-needle is then withdrawn, downwardly, or is moved through its down-travel, through the stages shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9.

Figure 7 shows the next stage, in which the cylinder-needle is descending, while the yarnloop is being controlled by the dial-needle (which dial-needle is stationary, during this stage).

The cylinder-needle continues to desce'fid, while the dial-needle remains stationary, and while the dial-needle controls and carries-thloop, as shown in Figure 8, and in that position-the latch of the cylinder-needlecloses, under the influence of the loop which encompasses both dial-needle and cylinder-needle, so that as the -cylinderneedle descends still further into the position shown in Figure 9, it withdraws from the loop entirely and is clear of the yarn. 1

The same cycle of transfer stages may be then carried out upon the transfer from the dialneedle to the cylinder-needle.

The transfer-needle of the present invention not only has the advantage of greater'facility in operation, but also has greater durability and greater accuracy in operation.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof; and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A transfer-needle for two-bank knitting machines wherein stitches are transferred from needles of one bank to needles of the other bank, said transfer-needle comprising a hook-retaining recess in one side of the needle, and a hookcamming recess in the same side of the needle and adjacent to the hook-retaining recess and merging with it; the hook-retaining recess being nearer to the hook of the needle and having one surface thereof generally parallel with the sidesurface of the needle and one surface thereof generally at a right angle to said side-surface; and the hook-camming recess being farther from the hook of the needle, and a loop-retaining shoulder extending laterally across the needle, in the front-edge thereof, approximately in alignment with a zone in which the hook-retaining recess merges into the hook-camming recess no portion of said needle protruding laterally beyond the planes of the side-surfaces of the shank of said needle.

2. A transfer-needle for two-bank knitting machines wherein stitches are transferred from needles of one bank to needles of the other bank, said transfer-needle comprising a hook-retaining recess in one side of the needle, and a hookcamming recess in the same side of the needle and adjacent to the hook-retaining recess and merging with it; the hook-retaining recess being nearer to the hook of the needle and having one surface thereof generally parallel with the sidesurface of the needle and one surface thereof generally at a right angle to said side-surface, and

6 the hook-camming recess being farther from the hook of the needle. and a loop-retaining shoulder extending laterally across the needle, in the fronthook of the needle, and a loop-retaining shoulder edge thereof, approximately in alignment with a zone in which the hook-retaining recess merges into the hook-camming recess; said loop-retaining shoulder being the full thickness of the needle no portion of said needle protruding lat erally beyond the planes of the side-surfaces of the shank of said needle.

3. A transfer-needle for two-bank knitting machines wherein stitches are transferred from needles of one bank to needles of the other bank, said transfer-needle comprising a hook-retaining recess in one side of the needle, and a hook-camming recess in the same side of the needle and adjacent to the hook-retaining recess and merging with it; the hook-retaining recessbeing nearer to the hook of the needle and having one surface thereof generally parallel with the side-surface of the needle and one surface thereof generally at a right angle to said side-surface, and the hook-camming recess being farther from the extending laterally acno ss the needle, in the frontedge thereof, approximately in alignment with a zone in which the hook-retaining recess merges ming recess, no portion of said needle protruding laterally beyond the planes of the side-surfaces of the shank of said needle.

4. A transfer-needle for two-bank knitting machines wherein stitches are transferred from needles of one bank to needles of the other bank, said transfer-needle comprising a hookretaining recess in the needle, and a hookcamming recess in the same side of the needle and adjacent to the hook-retaining recess and merging with it; the hook-retaining recess being nearer to the hook of the needle and having one surface thereof generally parallel with the side-surface of the needle and one surface thereof generally at a right angle to said sidesurface, and the hook-camming recess being farther from the hook of the needle, and a loopretaining shoulder extending laterally across the needle, in the front-edge thereof, approximately in alignment with a zone in which the hook-retaining recess merges into the hook-camming recess, no portion of said needle protruding laterally beyond the planes of the side-surfaces of the shank of said needle.

5. Atransfer-needle for two-bank knitting machines wherein stitches are transferred from needles of one bank to needles of the other bank, said transfer-needle comprising a hook-retaining recess inone side of the needle, and a hook camming recess in the same side of' the needle and adjacentto the hookretaining recess and merging with it; the hook-retaining recess being nearer to the hook of the needle and having one surface thereof generally parallel with the sidesurface of the needle and one surface thereof generally at a right angle to said side-surface, and the hook-camming recess being farther from the hook of the needle, and a loop-retaining shoulder extending laterally across the needle, in the front-edge thereof, no portion of said needle protruding laterally beyond the planes of the side-surfaces of the shank of said needle.

6. A transfer-needle for two-bank knitting machines wherein stitches are transferred from needles of one bank to needles of the other bank,

said transfer-needle including a recess in one side' 7 orthaneeme, said. recess av naahqe sr eta n portion. anda hook-camm nszp r iom a h ok-e retainingvportion being nearento. thehook; of the, needle: andhaying one surface; thereof generally parallel with the, side-surface; of; the. needleand one; surface thereof; generally at a right angle tosaid side surface, and said hook-camminggportion being farther-from the hookof the needle, said:hookretaining: portion being fully open: on. the side of the needle, said hook-camming portion; merging into said hook-retaining portion and, extending farther across, the; side of the nee d1e;than;therhookereta n n portion u e r ing- OnjheSldQQf the needle somewhat short of, the-v outeror; front edge of the needle, a hook-guidingportion, in the same plane as theside of the needle; a loop-retaining; shoulder extending -later-- ally; across, the-needle in the'front edge: thereof, noportion of' said needle protruding beyondthe side-walls of the shank of said needle-.,

7; Atransfer-needle for two-bankknitting machines wherein stitches are transferred from nee-n dles of one bank to needles of the other bank, said transfer-needle including a recess; in.- one sideof the needle, sa id recess: having a hook-retaining portion and a hook cammirlgportion, said hook-. retaining; portionbeing nearer to the hook of the needle, and said hook-camming portion being farther from;the; hook of; the; needle, said hook retaining; portion having onesurf ace thereof. gene.

orally-parallel:witlrthe side-surface ofv theheedle and one surface thereof generally at-a right angle to =said.side-surface, of the; needle and being exposed; on one; side 0f the needle, said. hook-cam-.

ming portion merging; into-said hook-retaining 5:

portion and-extending farther across theside of the, needle than the: hook-retaining portionbut emerging; on the sideof the needle somewhat.

short of the outer or front edge of the needle, a

hook-guiding portion; in the same-plane as theside of the needle aloop-retaining shoulder extending laterally across the. needle-in the front. edgethereof, approximately in alignment with the juncture zone between the hook-retaining pore tionand the hook-camming portion of. said re-. cess, noportion of-saidneedle protrudingbeyond the side-wallsof the shank of said needle.

8;. Atransfer-needlefor two-bank knitting ma-.. chines;whereinistitchesare transferredfromnee dles of one bank to needles of the-other bank,

assumes cammingportionmerging into said hOOkq-IBtfidllg ing portion and extending farther across the;side= shortof the outer or front edgeof the needle, a hookrguiding portion inthe same plane as theside of the-needle, a loop-retaining shoulder extending laterally across the needle in the front edge thereof .approximately in alignment with the juncture zone between the hook-retaining portion ,andthe hook-camming portion of said;recess, no portion of said needleiprotruding beyond the side-walls,

of; the shankof said needle; said loop-retaining shoulder being'the full thickness: of. the needle.- 9. A transfer-needle-for two-bank knitting machines wherein stitches are-transferred from I166?- dles of one bank to needles of the other-- bank,

said transfer-needle including a recess in one side i of the needle, said recess having a hook-retaim ing portion and a hook-camming portion, said hook-retaining portion being nearer to the hook,

of theneedle, and said hook-camming portion being; farther from the hook of the needle, said.

hook-retaining portion having one surface thereof generally parallel with the side-surface of the needle and one surface. thereof generally at a.

right angle to said side-surface of the needleand; being exposed on one side of, the needle,

said hookrcamming portion -merging into, said,-

hook-retaining portion and extending farther across the side of the-needlethanthe hook ,-re-. taining; portion'but, emerging on theusideof-the needle somewhat shortofthe outer or-front edge of the needle, ahook-guiding portion in the same;

plane as the side of. the needle; ,2. loop-retaining shoulder, extending laterally across the needle in the front, edge thereof approximately in align? ment with. the juncturezonebetween the-hook-.-

retaining portion. and the-hook-camming portion of said recess, noportion of said'needle protruding beyond, the side-wallsof, the shank of said,

needle; said loop-retaining shoulder being slightly above the hook-camming portion of said recess.

JULIUS SJRMAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of-this patent: 

